Open Options
Open Options is a privately held Canadian consulting firm, founded in 1996, that applies proprietary Game Theory algorithms to help enterprise executive teams analyze and resolve complex, multi-stakeholder strategic decisions. It serves Fortune 10 corporations to startups globally across eleven verticals via discrete project engagements.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersWaterloo, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Open Options does
Open Options is a privately held, boutique management consulting firm headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, founded in 1996. The firm specializes in applying proprietary Game Theory algorithms to help executive teams analyze and resolve complex, multi-stakeholder strategic decisions. Its client base spans Fortune 10 corporations to pre-revenue startups, with named engagements across pharmaceuticals (Pfizer, Amgen, GSK, Gilead, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Johnson & Johnson), mining (BHP, Rio Tinto, De Beers), energy (Chevron, Shell, ConocoPhillips), technology (IBM, Microsoft), financial services (Mastercard, Sun Life), aerospace (Boeing, Virgin Atlantic), industrials (Caterpillar), logistics (FedEx), distribution (Sysco), automotive (GM), and consulting (PwC). The firm operates globally across all continents from a single Canadian headquarters.
The firm's core product is a structured five-step consulting methodology: (1) Issue Statement coaching, (2) Organization Knowledge gathering via individual questionnaires, (3) a two-day facilitated Executive Session to construct a Game Theory model, (4) proprietary Game Theory Analysis that simulates millions to billions of outcome scenarios, and (5) delivery of a step-by-step Action Plan in playbook format. The underlying technology is a proprietary Game Theory analysis engine whose modelling approach was originally co-developed with the CIA during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The firm explicitly positions this as computational optimization rather than as a modern AI/ML stack; there are no APIs, SDKs, software products, or developer-facing interfaces — the offering is delivered exclusively through professional services engagements.
Open Options generates revenue through discrete, project-based consulting engagements with enterprise clients on undisclosed, presumably premium pricing. Go-to-market is purely direct and high-touch: executives engage through website contact forms and direct outreach, followed by a consultative scoping and workshop-based delivery. There are no channel partners, no disclosed marketing campaigns, no public pricing, no funding rounds, and no investor or parent-company relationships. The firm is founder-led, with Dr. Niall Fraser serving as Founder and Principal Scientist Emeritus, Tim Jeske as President, Paul Stephens as VP Operations and Head of Strategic Analysis, and Susan Hall as Director of Finance and Administration. The company maintains a small headcount of 11-50 employees and has operated continuously without external capital for nearly 30 years.
Open Options firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Open Options
- Legal name
- Open Options
- Website
- https://openoptions.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Open Options is a privately held Canadian consulting firm, founded in 1996, that applies proprietary Game Theory algorithms to help enterprise executive teams analyze and resolve complex, multi-stakeholder strategic decisions. It serves Fortune 10 corporations to startups globally across eleven verticals via discrete project engagements.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Open Options is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waterloo
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Open Options business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Strategic Consulting Engagements: Open Options generates revenue through discrete project engagements where they work with executive teams from client organizations. The process involves coaching clients through issue statement creation, conducting executive workshops, performing Game Theory analysis, and delivering step-by-step action plans in playbook format.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Open Options product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Open Options is a consulting firm that sells discrete strategic project engagements in which its team works alongside client executives through a five-step methodology (Issue Statement, Organization Knowledge, Executive Session, Game Theory Analysis, Action Plan). The engagements leverage proprietary Game Theory algorithms—originally developed with the CIA in the late 1980s and early 1990s—to simulate millions or billions of outcome scenarios and deliver step-by-step action plans in playbook format for complex, multi-stakeholder strategic decisions.
Product overview
Open Options offers a single unified consulting methodology built around its proprietary Game Theory analysis framework. The core offering is a structured five-step process (Issue Statement, Organization Knowledge, Executive Session, Game Theory Analysis, and Action Plan) that leverages proprietary algorithms to simulate outcome scenarios and generate strategic playbooks. This is delivered as professional consulting services, not as standalone software, with clients engaging in discrete project engagements where Open Options teams work alongside client executives to analyze complex business situations and produce actionable strategic recommendations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Game Theory Analysis Methodology (Open Options Process) A proprietary five-step strategic consulting methodology (Issue Statement, Organization Knowledge, Executive Session, Game Theory Analysis, Action Plan) sold to enterprise executive teams as discrete project engagements. It uses internally developed Game Theory algorithms to simulate millions or billions of outcome scenarios and produce a playbook-style action plan for complex, multi-stakeholder strategic decisions, with the goal of identifying the Best Attainable Outcome.
Companies that use Open Options
Customer profileNamed customers24 records
Segments12 records
Ideal customer profiles12 records
Open Options technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature3 records
Open Options partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Open Options competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Kearney: Global management consultancy with strength in operations, supply chain, and corporate strategy — competing for similar executive-team-level strategic advisory mandates with Fortune-class clients.
- Bain & Company: Global strategy consultancy with deep enterprise client relationships across pharma, mining, energy, and industrials — overlapping with Open Options' client verticals and competitive for board-level strategic mandates.
- McKinsey & Company: Largest global strategy consultancy serving Fortune-class enterprise clients on complex multi-stakeholder strategy decisions. Open Options competes for the same high-stakes strategic advisory budget, but from a narrower, methodology-led position.
- Arthur D. Little: Global strategy and innovation consultancy advising corporates on complex strategic decisions across energy, telecom, healthcare, and industrials — comparable enterprise buyer and engagement structure.
- Boston Consulting Group (BCG): Global strategy consultancy serving Fortune 500 clients on M&A, market strategy, and competitive positioning — overlapping on enterprise strategy engagements where Open Options applies its Game Theory framework.
- L.E.K. Consulting: Global strategy consultancy focused on transaction advisory, commercial strategy, and competitive analysis for corporate clients — comparable enterprise buyer profile and engagement-style to Open Options.
Direct peers
- Cornerstone Research: Economic and financial consulting firm using quantitative models, game theory, and statistical analysis to support strategic and litigation decisions for corporations — closely comparable methodology and client base.
- Charles River Associates: Economic and strategic consulting firm with a well-known Antitrust & Competition Economics practice that routinely applies Game Theory, auction modeling, and decision analysis to corporate and litigation engagements — directly comparable methodology to Open Options.
- Analysis Group: Economic, financial, and strategic consulting firm applying quantitative modeling, game-theoretic analysis, and decision science to complex multi-stakeholder corporate disputes and strategy questions — directly comparable analytical approach.
Regional players
- Roland Berger: Europe-headquartered global strategy consultancy serving large corporates on transformation, M&A, and competitive positioning. Comparable to Open Options in serving multinational enterprise clients with cross-border strategic mandates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Open Options social profiles
Digital presenceOpen Options financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Open Options leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Open Options funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Open Options M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Open Options
What does Open Options do?
Open Options is a consulting firm that sells discrete strategic project engagements in which its team works alongside client executives through a five-step methodology (Issue Statement, Organization Knowledge, Executive Session, Game Theory Analysis, Action Plan). The engagements leverage proprietary Game Theory algorithms—originally developed with the CIA in the late 1980s and early 1990s—to simulate millions or billions of outcome scenarios and deliver step-by-step action plans in playbook format for complex, multi-stakeholder strategic decisions.
Is Open Options a public or private company?
Open Options is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Open Options founded?
Open Options was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Open Options based?
Open Options is headquartered in Waterloo, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Open Options make money?
One revenue line is on record: strategic Consulting Engagements.
Who are Open Options's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Kearney, Bain & Company, McKinsey & Company, Arthur D. Little, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and L.E.K. Consulting. Direct peers are Cornerstone Research, Charles River Associates and Analysis Group. Roland Berger is listed as a regional player.
Does Open Options have an API?
No public API is recorded for Open Options.